Double Podium on 1st race weekend - Super Production Challenge
After a long and busy off season, Nathan Blok returned to the Super Production Challenge with a lighter, faster, and improved Futec Motorsports car for another championship assault in the Super Production Challenge (SPC).
Beginning the season at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Blok laid down the gauntlet early by taking his first pole position in SPC by 0.6 seconds over 2nd place Guillaume Labbe.
In Race 1 after the standing start, Blok faced some early opposition from Labbe before pulling out a gap, and maintaining a small lead in front of a seven car strong pack at the front. By lap 17, unfortunate timing with lap traffic and a loss of power due to a recurring fuel problem caused Blok to drop to 3rd with one lap to go. On the last lap, the lack of power allowed Kurt Wittmer to overtake him entering turn 8. But indeterred Blok attempted a daring pass around the outside, forcing a photo finish for 3rd place with Blok trumping Wittmer by 6 hundredths of a second at the finish line.
Starting 3rd for Race 2, With clouds and rain overhead, Blok would see the power issues again return at the halfway point of the race, causing him to drop to 4th by the chequered flag.
The 3rd and final race of the weekend would see the random grid inversion putting Blok in 6th for the start. Blok passed Mario Charette and Gabriel Lacombe in the opening lap before a lengthy full course caution bunched up the field. On the restart, Blok immediately took full advantage, passing Shawn Bernier for 3rd by putting 2 wheels in the grass entering turn 3, before another full course yellow occurred. The race ended under a full course yellow.
"This is a complete turnaround from last year. We're already fast and competitive, have good pace, and showed it all weekend. The Futec Motorsports car powered hy Shellbourne Fuels does have some recurring gremlins which need sorting, but we have the pace to take a shot at the championship this season once we can sort out our long run pace. We definitely have the best, and most dedicated team in the paddock, and I’m certain we can keep the good results rolling into Calabogie".
Blok;s
next race weekend is June 22-23 at the Calabogie Motorsport Park and
he goes into it running 3rd in the championship.
